Charlie always said what I was going to say, but additionally I think it’s a tough proposition paying a higher price for the 13 than for what the 15 is widely available at.
People are going to jack the prices in good vintages no matter what. As far as the northern Rhône goes, I tend to buy in warmer and more fruit forward vintages; that’s just my preference.
Just had this one a week ago, no idea if it is exported. A 100 % single plot Gamay from 2012. Before Xavier started making the grander wines all by himself he was making at least this wine and the entry level Viognier. I am quite fond of Gamay from the Rhône and wines like this one are the reason. No idea whether there ever were any Austrians hanging around where the vines grow.
My TN: Savory, stony and stemmy with some really bright raspberry fruit on the nose. On the palate light-to-medium bodied with a really firm mouthfeel and great uplifting acidity. Dry and savory but with fruit that is as vibrant as it gets. Some grip on the finish but dangerously drinkable nevertheless.
From what I understand, it was sort an immediate shift in winemaking, combined with a whole new concept on how the wines should be made at the same time. Or that’s what the folks at Rosenthal were telling me
I had the 2016 St. Joseph Le Blanchard. I’m not the best note taker, but looking at the only note on Cellartracker it mentions an initial impression being modern and candied with savory elements developing over time. I didn’t get that modern candied flavors at all and thought the savory elements were present from the beginning. My only issue with it is the price ($40 locally). I picked up a bunch of the 2015 CR, but haven’t tried it yet. Based on the notes that I’m seeing for the CR, the small premium for the CR wouldn’t justify buying the SJ. At $30, I’d probably buy. That being said, I need to try one of my CR’s. I just wanted to post this because since there’s only one note in Cellartracker for this wine and it mentions traits that many would not want in a Northern Rhone. All that being said, for $40, it is a quality wine, but the CR doesn’t cost much more, so take that for what it’s worth. I’ll try to open of of my CR’s soon and maybe provide better feedback on the comparison.
Cool, it’s good to know thyself and be realistic about how it all works. You should totally chase what you want irrespective of what anyone else thinks.
Pretty sure that was my note on the 16. I had the 16 st Joseph right in the middle of a bunch of well thought of 2015’s. The few 16’s that I’ve had have all shown much more forward and open than 15’s and the vintage might be one reason it showed a bit sweeter to me. I’ve found that in a few 16’s after having a couple more. I bought 16 @ $32 which seems more reasonable for what it is.
So I made inquiries and, according to my source, Xavier’s first vintage in charge was reported to be 2012 and that there have been very few changes in wine making and that they were subtle. The more substantial changes coming in farming practices but those wouldn’t have completely showed up yet. It was also added that Xavier is quite proud of the wines his father made.
That’s my understanding, 2013 may have been the legal change but in terms of vine growing and wine making it’s really distributions that largely overlap.
I’m sitting in a restaurant with a bottle of the 2013 Cote Rotie and am really enjoying it
Lots of interest: herb, spice, soy, hint of meat, backbone of red and black fruit. Substantial and satisfying. Unfolding nicely with ~20m in glass with a good amount of grip (goes nicely with a cheeseburger!) and not a million miles from Jamet if I’m honest, though missing a little resonance on the palate. I don’t miss the viognier in the 2015 either, though it is certainly a superior vintage to my taste
This will crush FU, as I know he secretly idolizes me and my Yak-palate, but he did not turn me onto this wine. Martin did. And it’s a Rosenthal import. Generally that wins.
I actually prefer the 2013 to the 2015, but that should not surprise. The 2015 is riper, more voluptuous, while the 2013 is, as Charlie notes, more stern, tannic and meaty. That’s actually a great, succinct descriptor for the wine in 2013.
The 2015 vintage Xavier drinks somewhere along the spectrum closer to Paris Geynale and Voge than the Cotie Roties that blow me away, like Levet, Benetiere, Jamet, Champet. But, this is a very sexy wine that actually delivers some classic CR notes of smoke, olive and brine. More on the dark spectrum of fruits, full-bodied, sensual textural experience, followed by chewy tannins but on the sweet side, and just a little tiny kick of heat. I prefer the 2013, but this 2015 delivers in spades. One could posit that this is an incredible cross-over wine to introduce your Cali-loving syrah friends too, and they will dig it. I ordered more and am happy for it. This is my second time trying this 2015, with similar thoughts. I will snag up 2016, and am guessing it may be better for my palate. This, folks, is a great buy in CR.
I agree. The 2015 is a classic Cote Rotie in 2015 fruity style. I like the 2015 Burgaud much better
I also tried the Condrieu “La Côte Châtillon” 2016. Was too muted to display anything but a normal Condrieu lack of acid.
Opened my first bottle of 2015 Gerard Cote Rotie. Not impressed. Worse as it opened. Jay Miller liked it even less. Blown away in context in side by side with ‘13 Voge VV. Boysenberry fruit, ripe, extracted, little tension, flat mid-palate and finish. Jay thought it was lactic but I didn’t get that. Air did not help. As the Voge got better, this settled into mediocrity.
. He said he fully took over for the 13 vintage.